“Due to strike action at SNCB, train services between Luxembourg and Belgium may be disrupted from Monday evening (10pm), 14 April 2025, until Tuesday 15 April 2025 inclusive (10pm),” the CFL warned customers on Friday afternoon, inviting them to obtain information on or on the CFL mobile app before embarking on their journey between Luxembourg and Belgium.
“Please note that the replacement bus service between Arlon and Luxembourg, set up by CFL , remains in place and unchanged,” the Luxembourg operator continues.
Seven out of 10 IC trains will be running on the 21st day of strike action affecting the sector this year. As for local trains, six L and S trains out of 10 will be running. However, few P trains will be running during rush hour, the SNCB announced on Sunday. The alternative service, drawn up on the basis of members of staff who have indicated their intention to work, will be available for consultation via the railway company’s travel planner from Monday morning.
This action is being led on the initiative of five SNCB unions, namely CGSP Cheminots, CSC-Transcom, SLFP, Sic and Sact. At the root of this movement are the new federal government’s reform plans, in particular the measures concerning the raising of the legal pension age--some railway workers currently benefit from the possibility of retiring from the age of 55--and the budgetary restrictions imposed on the railway company.
“Despite the conciliation meetings that have been held, the five trade union organisations have decided to maintain the strike on Tuesday 15 April,” comments the SNCB in a press release. “The management of HR Rail, Infrabel and SNCB regret this action and the fact that passengers are once again suffering the consequences of this conflict.”
Other strikes will still be held on Tuesday 22 and 29 April, when new general strikes have been announced.
The federal government is asking the railways to save €50m this year. The SNCB will bear the brunt of this effort with €45m, L’Echo and De Tijd reported on Saturday. In 2026, the amount will be €100m, then €125m in 2027 and €150m in 2028. The SNCB will have to save €45m in 2025, of which €41m will come from adjusting the fixed operating compensation that the railway company receives from the state. The remaining €9m is divided equally between the SNCB and rail infrastructure manager Infrabel.
SNCB and Infrabel are not commenting on how these savings will be incorporated into their budgets. According to the government, however, savings in the rail sector should not be made on Infrabel’s investments in order to “avoid causing network components to age.”
This article was originally published in .